Vaccinium plant named ‘RYOKU NH-13’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-13’, characterized by having a more upright plant growth habit, stronger plant vigor, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large fruit size, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and smaller stem scar.

The latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is: Vaccinium corymbosum L.

The novel variety of the Vaccinium corymbosum L. disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination: ‘RYOKU NH-13’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 31725, filed Jan. 4, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘RYOKU NH-13’. This novel variety was found by open pollination of ‘Chandler’, a seed parent variety, in the tests conducted for the period from 2003 to 2007 in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan. As stated below, ‘RYOKU NH-13’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the varieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both being widely planted and being important varieties in the Chubu district of Japan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Blueberry variety ‘RYOKU NH-13’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal horticultural conditions in the area from Nagano-prefecture to the north of the Kanto in Japan, including:

-   -   (1) more upright plant growth habit and stronger plant vigor;     -   (2) comparatively early fruit ripening time (on average, around         July 10 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan);     -   (3) comparatively large fruit size;     -   (4) sweeter fruits;     -   (5) better taste balance of sweetness and acidity;     -   (6) smaller stem scar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs (FIGS. 1-8) show typical bush, flower, fruit and leaf characteristics for the new Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant, ‘RYOKU NH-13’. Colors shown are as accurate as can be reasonably reproduced by photographic means. In some cases, the color might differ slightly from the colors of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ recited in the description.

FIG. 1 shows a tree body of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 10, 2015; photographed location: Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 2 shows a panoramic view of the cultivation area of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Sep. 7, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 3 shows whole flowers of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: May 8, 2015; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 4 shows broken-down parts of the flower of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: May 8, 2015; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 14, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 14, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 7 shows an upper side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 22, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

FIG. 8 shows a lower side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ (photographed date: Jul. 22, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1; and the age of photographed ‘RYOKU NH-13’: 5 years).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

A. Distinctive Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NY-11’

As described above, ‘RYOKU NH-13’ was obtained by the open pollination of ‘Chandler’, a seed parent (Note: the possible pollen parent might be ‘Blueray’). On Apr. 15, 2003, about 10,000 seeds of ‘Chandler’, which were cultivated in a field in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan, were seeded in plant seeding trays, and then transplanted to pots. The resulting seedlings (about 3,000) were planted in cultivation pots on May 1, 2004. Fructification of the planted seedlings were started from Jun. 20, 2007 (on Year 3), and about 200 plant individuals were selected based on the characteristics, including larger fruit size, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, higher yield per plant, earlier ripening time, large and uniform fruits, etc.. For the about 200 selected plant individuals, test plots (each including about 20 cuttings per plant individual) were formed, where these plants were asexually propagated by cutting means. During the period from Jul. 20, 2009 to Dec. 25, 2016 and for 3 generations, the plants were propagated and examined for their characteristics based on the growth, yield and fruits quality in each test plot. For 10 test plots, the characteristics of the plants were observed for the period between the flowering time and the ripening time yearly for 5 years, and since neither variant nor off-type plant was observed for the period, the characterization of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ was finished on Dec. 25, 2016 and the breeding was completed.

‘RYOKU NH-13’ is a blueberry clone which can be distinguished from the important blueberry varieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both of which are widely planted in the Chubu district of Japan, due to its characteristics including a more upright plant growth habit, stronger plant vigor, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large fruit size, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and smaller stem scar. From the above-described about 200 selected plant individuals, one plant individual, ‘RYOKU NH-13’, was selected out as described, and then 31 plants were propagated from ‘RYOKU NH-13’ by cutting means in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, and all the resulting plants were phenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant variety ‘RYOKU NH-13’. In addition, comparing to ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, the claimed plant ‘RYOKU NH-13’ has a more upright plant growth habit, about 1 week to 10 days earlier fruit ripening time (on average, around July 10 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan), sweeter fruits, and smaller stem scar when compared to its related variety ‘Chandler’, and has stronger plant vigor, larger fruit size, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and smaller stem scar when compared to ‘Blueray’ (see Table 1 below). It should be noted that the plant age of all the plants of ‘RYOKU NH-13’, which were observed for botanical description, was 5 years.

The following data defining the characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ were collected from the asexual propagation by cutting means carried out in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. The plant history was taken on a plot of 10 five-year-old plants growing in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. ‘RYOKU NH-13’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements provide might therefore vary when grown in different environments. Where averages are given, the sample size was 10.

B. Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (‘RYOKU NH-13’)

Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ are further specifically described as follows:

-   1. Plant:     -   -   Plant vigor.—Strong, where the plant vigor is stronger than             ‘Blueray’.         -   Plant size.—Large.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—1.8 m on average for 5-year old plant.         -   Plant spread.—1.1 m on average for 5-year old plant.         -   Color of bark of plant.—Dark Red, 187-A (The R.H.S. Colour             Chart).         -   Tendency toward evergreen.—Absent.         -   Cold hardiness.—Survived in winter frost (below −10° C.)             with minimum damage.         -   Ease of propagation.—Propagated by each of dormant wood             cutting and softwood stem cutting, where the rooting             percentage was greater than 70% and comparable to the other             varieties. -   2. Trunk and branches:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—Less sucker as in ‘Chandler’.         -   Surface texture (of 6-month-old shoots).—Lustrous.         -   Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Lustrous.         -   Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Orangish yellow             green.         -   Internode length.—20.4 mm on average. -   3. Leaves:     -   -   Leaf length including petiole.—70.4 mm on average.         -   Leaf width of leaf at widest point.—39.2 mm on average.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Upper surface of leaves: Dark Green, 136-A. Lower             surface of leaves: Deep Yellowish Green, 141-B (The R.H.S.             Colour Chart).         -   Pubescence.—Upper Surface of leaves: Absent. Lower Surface             of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent.         -   Timing of vegetative bud burst.—Medium. -   4. Flowers:     -   -   Shape.—Campanulate.         -   Color of opened flower.—Pale Yellow Green, 157-C (The R.H.S.             Colour Chart).         -   Color of sepal.—Light Yellowish Green, 135-D (The R.H.S.             Colour Chart).         -   Flowering period.—Mean date of 50% opening of flowers in             Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan is May 3,             equivalent to ‘Chandler’.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: 9.4 mm on average. Length (from pedicel             attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): 12.0             mm on average. Color: White. Anthocyanin coloration in             corolla tube — Medium. -   5. Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow. -   6. Fruit:     -   -   Mean date of 50% harvest in Matsumoto-City,             Nagano-prefecture.—July 10.         -   Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—7.6 mm on             average.         -   Size and shape of calyx lobe on mature berry.—Medium size,             outcurving, and having deep calyx basin.         -   Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium,             hard).—Easy.         -   Fruit cluster density (sparse, medium, dense).—Medium to             slightly dense.         -   Fruiting type.—On one-year old shoots only. -   7. Berry:     -   -   Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.         -   Weight (on well-pruned plants).—3.81 g on average.         -   Height.—13.3 mm on average.         -   Width.—21.3 mm on average.         -   Shape.—Oblate.         -   Surface color of mature berries ripe on the plant.—Light             Purplish Blue, 98-D (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).         -   Intensity of fruit bloom.—Medium.         -   Surface color of ripe berry after polishing.—Greyish             Purplish Blue, 103-A (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).         -   Immature berry color, with bloom.—Light Yellowish Green,             140-D (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).         -   Immature berry color, without bloom.—Brilliant Yellow Green,             149-A (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).         -   Flesh color.—Pale Yellow Green, 149-D (The R.H.S. Colour             Chart).         -   Peel color.—Medium blue.         -   Color of seeds.—Moderate Yellow, 162-A (The R.H.S. Colour             Chart).         -   Pedicel scar.—Medium, 2.54 mm on average.         -   Firmness.—Medium.         -   Intensity of fruit sweetness.—High, Bx 12.3.         -   Intensity of fruit acidity.—High, pH 2.55.         -   Texture.—Crispy, juicy, medium seeds. -   8. Use: ‘RYOKU NH-13’ produce northern highbush blueberries suitable     for fruit-picking farms, fresh fruit markets and processed fruit     markets, etc. -   9. Resistance to disease, insects, and mites: ‘RYOKU NH-13’ grew     vigorously and showed excellent bush survival in the field. It     appears to be tolerant to stem blight (Botryosphaeria spp.) and root     rot (Phytophthora cinnamoni), with very few young plants dying soon     after planting. The response of ‘RYOKU NH-13’ to the various fungal     species that cause summer leaf spots is typical of other northern     highbush varieties, and fungicide applications may be needed after     harvest in order to reduce foliar diseases and to retain leaves     until autumn and make maximum flower bud set. Similarly,     susceptibility to typical blueberry insect and mite pathogens, such     as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), blueberry gall     midge (Dasineura oxycoccana) and blueberry bud mite (Acalitus     vaccini) is similar to other northern highbush cultivars.

TABLE 1 (Comparison of characteristics among varieties) Charact. UPOV No No. Code Characteristics Definition 1 1 QN Plant: vigor Strength of growth (*) (+) level of plant 2 QN Plant: size Size of plant crown 3 2 QN Plant: growth habit Whole shape of (*) G plant without pruning during dormant period 4 3 PQ One-year-old Color of middle part shoot: color of shoot extended before dormant period 5 QN One-year-old shoot: Length of middle length part of shoot extended before dormant period 6 4 QN One-year-old shoot: Length of internode length of internode of shoot extended (upper half) before dormant period (upper half) 7 5 QN Leaf: length Length of leaf (*) sufficiently expanded 8 6 QN Leaf: width Maximum width of mature leaf 9 7 QN Leaf: ratio Ratio of leaf length length/width to maximum width (leaf length/leaf width) 10 8 PQ Leaf: shape Shape of mature leaf (*) 11 QN Leaf: shape of tip Shape of lip of (+) mature leaf 12 9 QL Leaf: color of Color of surface of upper side mature leaf 13 10 QN Only varieties with Intensity of green (*) green leaf color: color on surface of Leaf, intensity of mature leaf green color on upper side 14 11 QL Leaf: margin Type of margin of (*) mature leaf 15 12 QN Flower bud: Intensity of anthocyanin anthocyanin coloration coloration of flower bud occurring to one year old shoot 16 13 QN Inflorescence: Length of length (excluding inflorescence at peduncle) flowering time (excluding peduncle) 17 14 PQ Flower: shape Shape of corolla at of corolla full bloom 18 PQ Flower: color of Color of corolla at corolla full bloom 19 15 QN Flower: size of corolla Size of corolla (*) tube tube at full bloom 20 16 QN Flower: Intensity of (*) anthocyanin anthocyanin coloration of corolla coloration on tube surface of corolla tube 21 17 QL Flower: ridges Presence or on corolla tube absence of ridges on corolla tube 22 18 QN Fruit cluster: density Density of fruit per fruit cluster 23 19 QN Unripe fruit: intensity Intensity of green (*) of green color color of fruit before ripening 24 20 QN Fruit: size Size of fruit at (*) ripening 25 21 PQ Fruit: shape in Shape in (*) (+) longitudinal longitudinal section section of fruit at ripening 26 QN Fruit: size of scar Size of stem scar of (+) mature fruit 27 PQ Fruit: shape of Shape of calyx (+) calyx cavity cavity of mature fruit 28 22 QN Fruit: attitude of sepals Attitude of sepals relative to mature fruit 29 23 QN Fruit: type of sepals Direction of curving of sepals 30 24 QN Fruit: diameter of Diameter of calyx basin calyx basin of mature fruit 31 25 QN Fruit: depth of Depth of calyx calyx basin basin of mature fruit 32 26 QN Fruit: intensity of Intensity of (*) bloom bloom on surface of mature fruit 33 27 PQ Fruit: color of skin Color of skin of (*) G (after removal mature fruit after of bloom) removal of bloom 34 28 QN Fruit: firmness Firmness of (+) mature fruit 35 PQ Fruit: color of flesh Color of flesh of mature fruit 36 29 QN Fruit: sweetness Sweetness of (*) (+) mature fruit 37 30 QN Fruit: acidity Acidity of mature (*) (+) fruit 38 31 QL Plant: fruiting type Shoots to which (*) G fruits adnate 39 QN Fruit: tendency of Tendency of cracking cracking during harvest season 40 32 QN Time of vegetative Time of beginning (*) (+) bud burst to burst first vegetative bud of each individual plant 41 33 QN Time of beginning of Time of 10% (*) (+) flowering on one- flowering occurring G year-old shoot to one year old shoot 42 34 QN Varieties which fruit Time of 10% (*) (+) on one-year-old shoot flowering G and current season's occurring to current shoot: Time of begin- year's shoot ning of flowering on current year's shoot 43 35 QN Time of beginning Time of 10% fruit (+) of fruit ripening on ripening on one G one-year-old shoot year old shoot 44 QN Period of harvest Length of harvest period of fruit 45 36 QN Varieties which fruit Tme of 10% fruit (*) (+) on one-year-old shoot ripening on current G and current year's shoot season's shoot: Time of beginning of ripening on current year's shoot Charact. Standard Variety No Method Class State (E.x. Var.) 1 Observation 3 weak Bluetta, (a) Meader VG 5 medium Collins, Weymouth 7 strong Berkeley, Homebell, Woodard 2 Observation 3 small Avonblue, (a) Bluetta, VG Flordablue 5 medium Bluecrop, Earliblue 7 large Dixi, Homebell, Tifblue 3 Observation 1 upright Becyblue, (a) Bluechip, VG June, Spartan 2 semi-upright Bluecrop, Lateblue 3 spreading Northland, Weymouth 4 Observation 1 green (a) 2 greenish red VG 3 greyish red Briteblue, Homebell 4 reddish yellow Berkeley, Dixi 5 reddish brown Blueray, Darrow, Weymouth 6 dark red 5 Measurement 3 short mm 5 medium (a) 7 long VG 6 Observation 3 short Avonblue, (a) Weymouth VG 5 medium 7 long Jersey 7 Measurement 3 short mm 5 medium (b) 7 long MS/ VG 8 Measurement 3 narrow mm 5 medium (b) 7 broad MS/ VG 9 Measurement 3 small (b) 5 medium MS/ 7 large VG 10 Observation 1 lanceolate (b) 2 ovate Northland VG 3 elliptic Berkeley, Collins, Coville 4 oblong 11 Observation 3 acute Weymouth, (b) Woodard VG 5 slightly acute Earliblue, Tifblue 7 obtuse Berkeley, Climax, Southland 12 Observation 1 yellow (b) 2 green Bluechip, VG Bluecrop, Blueray 13 Observation 3 light (b) 5 medium VG 7 dark 14 Observation 1 entire (b) 2 serrate VG 15 Observation 3 weak (a) 5 medium VG 7 strong 16 Measurement 3 short mm 5 medium (c) 7 long MS/VG 17 Observation 1 urceolate Bluecrop, (c) Jersey VG 2 campanulate Northblue, Northsky 3 cylindrical 18 Observation 1 white Aliceblue, (c) Bluetta, VG Briteblue 2 creamy white Avonblue, Berkeley, Bluecrop 3 greenish white Blueray, Collins, Coville 4 light pink Bluebell, Delite, Dixi, Tifblue 19 Observation 3 small (c) 5 medium VG 7 large 20 Observation 1 absent or very weak (c) 3 weak VG 5 medium 7 strong 21 Observaton 1 absent Herbert (c) 9 present Aliceblue VG Berkeley, Dixi 22 Observation 3 sparse Homebell, (d) Jersey, VG Woodard 5 medium Bluechip, Bluecrop, Bluetta 7 dense Darrow, Herbert, Patriot 23 Observation 3 light VG 5 medium 7 dark 24 Observation 3 small Homebell, (d) June, VG Northblue 5 medium Collins, Earliblue 7 large Berkeley, Bluecrop, Spartan 25 Observation 1 elliptic (d) 2 round Berkeley, VG Jersey, Sharpblue 3 oblate Earliblue, Harison, Woodard 26 Observation 3 small (d) 5 medium VG 7 large 27 Observation 1 star (d) 2 circular VG 28 Observation 1 erect (d) 2 erect to semi-erect VG 3 semi-erect 4 level 29 Observation 1 incurving (d) 2 straight VG 3 reflexed 30 Observation 3 small Avonblue, (d) Bluechip, VG Sharpblue 5 medium Blueray, Woodard 7 large Coville, Darrow, Homebell 31 Observation 3 shallow Bluecrop, (d) Rancocas, VG Tifblue 5 medium Earliblue, Jersey 7 deep Blueray, Collins, Dixi 32 Observation 1 very weak (d) 3 weak Dixi, Herbert, VG Sharpblue 5 medium Collins, Coville 7 strong Avonblue, Bluecrop, Tifblue 33 Observation 1 light blue Berkeley, (d) Bluechip, VG Tifblue 2 medium blue Blueray, Jerse, June 3 dark blue Dixi, Homebell 4 blue red 34 Observation 3 soft Herbert, (d) Homebell, VG/ Spartan VS 5 medium Collins, Dixi 7 firm Coville, Southland 9 very firm 35 Observation 1 white Berkeley, (d) Bluecrop, VG Blueray 2 cream Earliblue 3 light green Bluechip, Lateblue, Sharpblue 4 light purple Aliceblue, Delite, Homebell 36 Observation 3 low Avonblue, (d) Bluechip VG 5 medium Berkeley, Bluetta, Spartan 7 high Aliceblue, Bluecrop, Blueray 37 Observation 3 low Earliblue, (d) Homebell VG 5 medium Blueray, Herbert 7 high Collins, Elliott, Lateblue 38 Observation 1 on one-year-old (c) shoots only VG 2 on one-year-old and current season's shoots 39 Observation 3 less Earliblue, (d) Herbert, VG Spartan 5 medium Avonblue, Berkeley, Bluechip 7 much Briteblue, Climax, Darrow 40 Measurement 3 early Avonblue, MG Beckyblue, Sharpblue 5 medium Darrow, Weymouth 7 late Elliott, Lateblue 41 Measurement 1 very early MG 3 early 5 medium Bluecrop, Collins, Woodard 7 late Dixi, Herbert, Lateblue 9 very late 42 Measurement 3 early MG 5 medium 7 late 43 Measurement 1 very early MG 3 early Avonblue, Earliblue, Weymouth 5 medium Herbert, Jersey 7 late Briteblue, Elliott, Tifblue 9 very late 44 Measurement 3 short Darrow, MG Northblue 5 medium Berkeley, Bluecrop 7 long Briteblue, Tifblue, Woodard 45 Measurement 3 early MG 5 medium 7 late The present variety Control Varieties Charact. No RYOKU NH-13 Blueray Chandler 1 7 6 7 2 7 5 7 3 1 1 2 4 5 5 4 5 6 5 7 (212 mm) (173 mm) (288 mm) 6 7 3 6 (20.4 mm) (14.0 mm) (16.7 mm) 7 5 5 6 (70.4 mm) (68.0 mm) (67.0 mm) 8 5 5 6 (39.2 mm) (31.0 mm) (36.3 mm) 9 5 5 5 (1.80) (2.20) (1.85) 10 3 3 3 11 5 5 5 12 2 2 2 13 5 5 5 14 1 1 1 15 5 7 6 16 7 6 6 (42.0 mm) (28.7 mm) (35.1 mm) 17 2 1-2 2-3 18 1 3 1 19 7 5 7 20 1 3 1 21 1 9 9 22 6 7 7 (slightly dense) 23 4 7 3 24 7 5 7 (3.81 g) (2.89 g) (5.72 g) 25 3 3 3 26 6 7 7 (2.54 mm) (3.80 mm) (3.98 mm) 27 2 2 2 28 2 3 3 29 3 1 3 30 7 6 7 (7.60 mm) (4.40 mm) (6.46 mm) 31 7 7 7 (3.22 mm) (2.60 mm) (2.32 mm) 32 5 5 5 33 2 2 2 34 5 6 5 35 3 3 3 36 7 7 6 (Bx 12.3) (Bx 12.6) (Bx 13.0) 37 7 5 6 (pH 2.55) (pH 3.12) (pH 2.96) 38 1 1 1 39 3 3 3 40 5 5 5 Apr. 7 (2016) Apr. 6 (2016) Apr. 8 (2016) 41 6 5 6 Apr. 26 (2016) Apr. 23 (2016) Apr. 27 (2016) 42 — — — 43 6 5 7 Middle July to Middle July to Late July to late July late July early August 44 6 5 5 45 — — — 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-13’, as described and illustrated herein. 